In 1971, Anna Maria Banelli and her husband, Primo, took over her familys Tenuta Il Palazzo, an ancient, abandoned estate near Arezzo in far-inland Tuscany, about 60 miles southeast of Florence. The Banellis reconstructed the estates original architecture and revived the land, which now consists of more than 80 acres of grapes and 6,000 olive trees. This red is 34% Sangiovese, 33% Merlot, and 33% Syrah. The bouquet offers gorgeous aromas of baking spice, pepper, cedar, red cherries and raspberries. The palate is lush, rounded and bursting with red fruits, sweet vanilla and orange notes. Pair with pasta, pizza, calzone, entrees with meat sauces and even lighter cuts of veal, pork and beef.
